On Sunday afternoon, we were surprised by the arrival of the 1940s powerful luxury steam train chugging behind the ruins of the Chapman-Beverley Mill, which has interesting Civil War history.
GERMANTOWN
Often driving by the sign declaring the birthplace of America’s famous Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall, we decided to drive to the other end of Fauquier County to Germantown…which the birthplace website describes as: the edge of the American frontier.
Coming to the familiar quiet country intersection, we drove on each of the roads before finally stumbling on the birthplace, now a lovely park.
Had we known there was a picnic table, we’d have brought lunch, because it’s such a lovely and tranquil spot.
NATURE TRAIL
The walking path was clearly marked and easy to follow.
While walking the 1/2 mile trail through the woods to his birthplace, I imagined John Marshall playing in these woods as a boy…
…and wading in the stream…
Obviously this also makes a great nature trail to study flora and fauna.
Although ruins are not seen, they foundation is somewhere in the woods, because only a monument marks the area at the other end of the trail.
JOHN MARSHALL’S LIFE
When he grew up he was a Culpeper Minuteman, a nearby regiment.
After attending the College of William and Mary, he studied law under George Wythe, like his cousin, Thomas Jefferson did many years before.
First serving as a representative of Fauquier County in the Virginia State Assembly, he later served in the US House of Representatives, then was appointed Secretary of State.
Then in 1801, President John Adams appointed Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the position for which he is most famed.
Marshall is famous for his landmark decision in 1803’s Marbury v. Madison, establishing judicial review (rendering Congressional decisions null and void if they violate the Constitution).
Although we visited his house in Richmond in 2011, I’m hoping to visit other famous sites before doing a full story on his life, which is richly interesting!
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
